Laura Darby, Author at The Austinot

Yummin’ Austin Ramen: Daruma

May 27, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Daruma Ramen Austin

Cute little fat ninjas love ramen

Everyone has gotten excited about the ramen excursions I’ve been doing for the Austinot. As a result, my ramen posse has expanded quite a bit. When Annie told me that the EIGHT people coming to Daruma might be difficult to accommodate, I didn’t realize how right she was.

If Daruma Ramen is the sister to Kome Sushi House, it is the LITTLE sister. Their space holds a grand total of 29 people, at two long tables and two high bars. Daruma can be found with a magnifying glass at 612-B East 6th St.

To Daruma’s credit, they fit our big party, even though we took up pretty much a whole table at primo lunch hour. [Read more…]

Yummin’ Austin Ramen: Kome to Me

May 13, 2013 by Laura Darby Leave a Comment

Kome Japanese Restaurant in Austin

Not a straight ramen joint

In the interest of being ~~hungry~~ fair in my assessment of Austin’s Ramen Offerings™, I’m trying places that don’t necessarily specialize in ONLY ramen.

So for my next foray in the Yummin’ Austin Ramen series, I checked out Kome Sushi Kitchen, located at 4917 Airport Boulevard.

Kome is mostly famous for their fresh, delicious, sushi. With the surge in ramen popularity, however, they opened up a ramen-only “sister” restaurant called Daruma this year (review forthcoming). [Read more…]

Yummin’ Austin Ramen: Michi Ramen

April 22, 2013 by Laura Darby 2 Comments

Michi Ramen Austin

“Glamorous” exterior

Ramen. Ramen, ramen, ramen. It’s all I can think about. Or tweet about. Or eat about.

After being introduced to Austin’s red-hot take on the Japanese noodle phenomenon at Ramen Tatsu-Ya, I immediately started scouting out other local ramen places, to see how they compare.

I conspired with my Austin Twitter posse, coordinating a group lunch expedition to Michi Ramen at 6519 N Lamar Blvd. [Read more…]

Yummin’ Austin Ramen: Ramen Tatsu-Ya

April 8, 2013 by Laura Darby

Line at Ramen Tatsu-Ya in Austin

Busy line at Ramen Tatsu-Ya

You’ve heard your friends talking about it: RAMEN FEVER has come to Austin. It’s appropriate, considering our feverishly hot season is coming too. Will delicious hot Japanese soup sustain its hype during the summer months?

It is our clear CULINARY RESPONSIBILITY at the Austinot to examine EVERY ramen place in Austin (with our stomachs), and so I took the “great burden” upon myself to visit Ramen Tatsu-Ya at 8557 Research Blvd. in Austin. [Read more…]

Austin Wine Bars: Apothe-Carry Me Home

April 1, 2013 by Laura Darby

Exterior at Apothecary Austin Cafe & Wine Bar

Unassuming exterior at Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar

Editor’s Note: Apothecary closed in May 2017.

Not every evening in Austin calls for beer and BBQ. We at the Austinot aim to find some of the town’s great wine bars too, where one can go after a rough day at work and just sit for a quiet glass of vino.

Which led me to Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar one evening after work. Located in the Rosedale Village Center at 4800 Burnet, close to 45th Street, Apothecary is a bit difficult to find. The signage along Burnet are blink-and-you-miss-it. It was, in fact, my failure to find Apothecary that originally led me to Gusto. [Read more…]

Austin Influential Group: Having a Ball for Charity

March 19, 2013 by Laura Darby 1 Comment

Secret Society Ball Benefit for Austin Pets Alive

Secret Society Ball hostess Mandy Lauderdale welcomes party-goers with puppy at her side

Waiting in line outside of the Swan Dive, the setting feels transformed. The red carpet below our feet, the excitement emanating from the other people in line, their feathers and fringe swaying in the night breeze.

We stood for our picture in front of a beautiful grey and blue fleur background, like a vignette from Downton Abbey, me in my elbow-length gloves and Adam in his white tie tuxedo with tails.

We were transported into the roaring 20’s inside, swinging jazz blaring and dancers jitterbugging on the center floor.

Our hostess, Mandy Lauderdale, floated through the crowd, yet what was trailing behind her? Wasabi, a bouncing puppy! [Read more…]

Finding Vintage Glamour for Your Next Austin Dress-Up Party

March 7, 2013 by Laura Darby 6 Comments

Austin Influential Group Secret Society Ball

Austinites go vintage at Austin Influential Group’s Secret Society Ball!

We’ve covered a lot of the crazy dress-up events in Austin. Carnaval! The Mad Men Soirée! The Secret Society Ball (article coming soon)!

If there is one thing that Austinites LOVE, it’s dress-up parties.

So how do you get ready for one of these wild fêtes? I’ve found that there are lots of places to go in Austin to find vintage glamour and easy ways to make your night well-coifed!

Vintage Sass

Austin is filled with stylish vintage stores to make your night feel authentic. To prepare for the Mad Men Soirée, I went to Venus Envy, a consignment store in North Austin on West Anderson Lane. They specialize in costumes, formal wear and plus-sized things. I figured it would be a great place to start (and it might happen to be right around the corner from my house). [Read more…]

Day Trip to a Distant Past: Inner Space Caverns

February 25, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Inner Space Caverns entrance

Entrance to the Inner Space Caverns

Driving around Austin, there is so much to see to engage your imagination. Flashy neon signs, funky graffiti, natural parks.

But you may have missed one of the most natural beauties in the Austin area, just feet away. Seventy feet, to be exact, down below you as you pass along I-35 right outside of Georgetown.

The Inner Space Caverns were discovered in the 1960’s. Construction crews bore down while expanding the highway, only to realize that not only was their drill much deeper than they’d expected, but it was stuck! They drilled a 24″ hole nearby and lowered a man down to see exactly what was going on. Imagine drawing the short straw that day! [Read more…]

Drinking with Gusto at One of My Favorite Austin Wine Bars

February 21, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Gusto is one of the best Austin wine bars

Good crowd even on a weeknight

Our guest blogger Rob Moshein has written about relaxing Austin wine bars downtown, but there also happen to be some great wine spots in North Austin that should be shared as well!

I first discovered Gusto Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar when I was on Burnet Road looking for another wine bar in the same neighborhood. Considering how I wandered in, lost and confused, it turned out to be a wonderful treat and surprise, boasting an impressive list and variety of wines.

And while Gusto is a great place to have some appetizers and a glass or two of wine, it also has delicious, fresh-tasting food and excellent happy hour specials. When we get just a LITTLE bit more warmth in Austin, we’ll really appreciate their fantastic outdoor patio space! [Read more…]

Pinot’s Palette: Painting Therapy in South Austin

February 13, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Though everyone is using the same inspiration painting, they can turn out very different!

Though everyone is using the same inspiration, paintings can turn out very different!

I once decided after a friend gifted me with his old easel that I was going to paint.

I went out to the local craft store and bought a starter kit, some brushes and some really cheap canvas. I wore an old white button-down shirt, ready to have it creatively splattered with paint. [Read more…]